Lock cap for gasoline and other tanks



Sept. 20, 1932. BURROUGHS 1,878,436

LOCK GAP FOR GASOLINE AND OTHER TANKS Filed Jan. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Shea l 0 o ,V/ 20 J /.9 j y k 0 Z B gg 6 Sept. 20, 1932. BURROUGHS 1,878,436

LOCK CAP FOR GASOLINE AND OTHER TANKS Filed Jan. 29,1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1: El EE! Inventor 1 5, I 7 War/'0 7/2)" Patented Sept. 20, 1932.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT IRWIN BURROUGHS, F HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA Application filed January 29, 1932. Serial No. 589,747.

This invention relates to a lock cap which is mainly designed for use with a gasoline tank for automobiles and the like, the general object of the invention being to provide simple means for locking the cap in closed position so as to prevent the cap from being lost and to prevent it irom being removed in an attempt to steal some of the gasoline from the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide the device with lugs for engaging slots in those types of tanks which are provided with slots, to prevent rotary movement of the cap which might result in withdrawing the latch bolt through the slot in the neck of the tank.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In descri'ing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several Views, and in which Figure 1 is a sectional view through a part of the tank showing the improved cap in use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the cap.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the cap.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View thereof with the bottom section removed.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the lower section.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the entire device.

Fig. 7 is an elevation with parts in section of the cam carrying member.

40 In these views, the numeral 1 indicates the body of the device which is provided with a flange 2 at its upper end fitting on the top of the neck 3 of the tank A. As shown, this body is formed with a lower section 4:

.; which is detachably connected with the rest of the body by the screws 5. A key barrel is rotatably arranged in the body 1 and is provided with the usual spring pins 7 for preventing any but the right key being placed so in the keyhole of the barrel and the barrel turned. The key is shown at 8. The barrel is formed with a flange 9 at its lower end which fits in a countersink in the bottom of the main part of the body.

A member 10 fits in a recess in the section 4 and forms a continuation of the barrel and carries the cams 11 for operating the latches 12 which are slidably arranged in transverse openings 13, partly formed in the section 4 and partly in the body 1, at the point of juncso tion of the two parts. The upper end of the member 10 has a recess 14 therein to receive a slide 15 which is normally held in raised position by a spring 16, so that this slide is normally held above the recess 14;, but when the key of the proper length is inserted in the barrel, the slide is pushed downwardly so that a part will occupy the recess 14, and then when the barrel is turned by the key, the member 10 is caused to turn, and thus the cam parts will operate the latch members 12, the springs of which are shown at 17.

Springs 18 project from grooves in the opposite sides of the two part body and act to frictionally hold the device even though the latch members 12 are in retracted position, and blocks 19 are fastened to the main part of thebody by the screws 20 when the device is to be used in those tanks which have necks divided with the interior slots, as these blocks will engage the slots and thus prevent turning movement of the device.

If the device should turn, in the slotted neck, it might be possible to place the latch members under the slots, and thus the device 35 could be removed by lifting the same upwardly. Of course these blocks are not used when the device is used in tanks having screw necks.

The bottom of the section 4 is provided with an opening 21 and the bottom of the member 10 is formed with a recess 22, so that if one loses his key, he can bore a hole in the bottom of the tank, and insert a long screw driver therethrough into the recess 22 and thus turn the same so as to unlock or retract the latches 12 to permit the cap to be removed.

Of course, the tank can be provided with a plug in its bottom, so arranged that a screw driver can be placed through the hole left by the removal of the plug through the opening 21 into the recess 22.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided simple means for locking a cap in closed position on a tank with means whereby the cap can only be removed by the insertion of the proper sized key.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

therein and the lower end of the lock operating member having a recess therein for receiving a tool for turning the member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBT. IRWIN BURROUGHS.

It is to beunderstood that changes may bemade in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, wha I claim as new is 1. A tank cap comprising a body part having a bore, a key operated barrel rotatably arranged in the bore, spring pressed latch members extending transversely through the body, a member in the lower part of thebore having means thereon for operating the latch members, and a slide operated by the keyv of said barrel for engaging a part of the member to cause a turning movement of the member by the barrel to operate the latch means.

2. A tank cap comprising a body part hav ing a bore, a key operated barrel rotatably arranged in the bore, spring pressed latch members extending transversely through the body, a member in the lower part of thebore having means thereon for operating the latch members, a slide operated by the key of said barrel for engaging a part of the member to cause a turning movement of the member by the barrel to operate the latch means, and a spring for normally holding the slide in raised position out of engagement with the said member.

3. A tank cap comprising a body part having a bore, a key operated barrel rotatably arranged in the bore, spring pressed latch members extending transversely through the body, a member in the lower part of the bore having means thereon for operating the latch members, a slide operated by the key of said barrel for engaging a part of the member to cause a turning movement of the member by the barrel to operate the latch means, a spring for normally holding the slide in raised position out of engagement with the said member, and blocks removably fastened to the body for engaging slots in the neck.

4. A tank cap comprising a body part having a bore, a key operated barrel rotatably arranged in the bore, spring pressed latch members extending transversely through the body, a member in the lower part of the bore having means thereon for operating the latch members, a slide operated by the key of said barrel for engaging a part of the member to cause a turning movement of the member by the barrel to operate the latch means, the lower end of the body having an opening 

